mistrust

Seattle heavy metal band

Mistrust is a heavy metal band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984. The group’s main line-up consists of vocalist Jeff L'Heureux, guitarists Owen Wright and Michael Winston, bassist Tim Wolfe and drummer Chris Gohde. Before Mistrust, L'Heureux sings with Culprit, while Winston and Wolfe play in Rottweiler alongside other artists including members of Metal Church on the 1984 compilation Northwest Metalfest. Mistrust begins with Wright, Gohde, Kevin Wells, Winston and Wolfe, then changes line-up as Wells leaves and L'Heureux first steps in as a temporary vocalist before becoming a full member.

Recordings and line-up changes

In 1985, Mistrust records “Running for My Life” with L'Heureux, and the track later appears on the compilation Pacific Metal Project. After Culprit splits up, L'Heureux joins Mistrust full time. The band’s only album, Spin the World, is released in 1986 on C.O.M.A. Records and is later issued again by Heart of Steel Records in 2009. The album leads to support slots with Alice Cooper, Stryper and Loudness, but poor sales contribute to further instability. Winston leaves in 1987, former Culprit guitarist Kjartan Kristofferson joins briefly, and the band ends in 1988.

After the split

After Mistrust ends, Wright and Gohde form My Sister’s Machine with singer-guitarist Nick Pollock and bassist Chris Ivanovich. Pollock has previously played guitar with Layne Staley in an early Alice in Chains line-up. My Sister’s Machine records the albums Diva and Wallflower before splitting in 1994. Mistrust later reunites in 2009 at the Feedback Lounge in West Seattle for a CD release event for Spin the World.

Name origin

Gohde says the band chooses the name Mistrust because the word feels fitting for the world and sounds good.

UK electronic artist

Mistrust is also the name used by Tim Blackburn from the UK. He begins making music in the 1980s, writing and recording songs in his bedroom with an old synthesiser and drum machine. After a period away from music, he starts performing live in early 2023. His debut album, Sunlight, appears in early 2023, and he also heads the Future Yard Showcase in the UK that year. His single “New Chester Road Revisited” is released in May 2024.

Releases and remixes

Blackburn describes his work as synth pop and has remixed tracks by artists including Pitch Black and Tom Bailey. His releases include Yellow and Grey / Gelb und Grau (2023), Never Let You Go (2022), New Age Mistrust Remix (2021), Everyday, Everyday, The Mistrust Remixes (2020), a remix of Pitch Black’s “Rude Mechanicals” (2008) on Dubmission Records, and a remix of Animat’s “Deep Space Lament” (2020) on Disco Gecko Records. His CDs are sold in HMV stores in the UK, and his live performances include the Big Condo Records Tour, Cable Festival, Together Festival, Liscard Festival, Astonbury, Glaston-BURY Festival, Future Yard Showcase and HMV Liverpool. He also raises money from sales of the Yellow and Grey EP to help preserve an historic train.